Reports: Women feared Deltona firefighter they say raped them

Women he is accused of sexually battering were reluctant to give statements as they feared the violent nature displayed when attacked.

By Patricio G. Balonapatricio.balona@news-jrnl.com

Even as a Deltona firefighter sat in jail on charges of rape, the women he is accused of sexually battering were reluctant to give investigators statements as they feared the aggressive and violent nature the fireman displayed when he sexually attacked them, according to reports released this week.The women feared Terry Freeman, 32, especially when they thought that he might get out of jail on bail, reports show. “(I thought) Well, here we go. Here’s this big firefighter, you know, community service hero and here’s a single woman,” a single mother told investigators. “I thought that we have a bit of a David and Goliath situation ... they are going to drag me through the mud.”The State Attorney’s Office has formally charged him with raping three women. Volusia County sheriff’s investigators have asked for charges against Freeman in three other cases.In all, investigators say 12 women and a possible 13th have come forward to report that Freeman sexually attacked them while out on dates.The charges include three counts of sexual battery using force, one count of sexual battery (no force), one count of attempted sexual battery, one count of false imprisonment and one count of sexual battery with a deadly weapon/force.Orange City police have reopened a case where Freeman is accused of raping an 18-year-old woman, police said.Volusia County Branch jail records show Freeman is being held on $750,000 bail.Freeman remains on administrative leave from his job as a Deltona firefighter, where he started work in January 2012. He is using accrued vacation and holiday pay, said Lee Lopez, a city spokesman. Firefighters in Deltona get seven hours of leave time for every two-week pay period worked.Lopez said the city manager will make a decision as to what action will be taken just prior to Freeman’s accrued time being depleted in early April. Freeman was placed on administrative leave Jan. 4 and his accrued vacation and holiday pay ends April 10, Lopez said. Freeman was arrested in December after an Altamonte Springs woman reported to police that Freeman had raped her while out on a date.After that hit the news, other women came forward with similar stories. But some were reluctant and investigators had to reassure them that their identity and well-being would be safeguarded, according to newly released transcriptions of the recorded police interviews of three victims and other witnesses.They feared for their safety and that of their families, their jobs and that they wouldn’t be believed if they accused a firefighter, documents state.A single mother told investigators the attack on her was so sudden that she did not have the time to say no. She said she met Freeman at a family party where he approached her and introduced himself. They exchanged numbers and after a few text messages, Freeman invited her to the beach but she turned him down so he invited her to his house, and she accepted.“And we did the whole Google thing because he said he was a firefighter,” the woman said to investigators. “He looks very clean-cut and what you’d consider to be safe.”But the woman said she was surprised by the Freeman who met her at his house. She sat on the couch as Freeman got her glass of wine she never had a chance to drink.“Within 30 seconds he had basically thrown himself on top of me,” the woman reported. “And it was just one of those situations that happened really quickly and he just stripped my pants off.”Freeman was uncontrolled and aggressive, overpowering her, choking and spitting on her before raping her twice, the woman told investigators.“I don’t think I ever had a window of opportunity to say no. There was no opportunity to stop him – it was a locomotive at that point,” the woman said.The woman had marks on her neck, scratches and back pain after Freeman flipped her over and twisted her, reports state. After the attack Freeman threw a towel at her and didn’t even look back at her, she said.“And I was thinking like, who is this person? I don’t know what just happened,” she said.Another woman said Freeman held her hands behind her back as he forcefully raped her. The woman said she was afraid that if she resisted she would get killed.“I’m in his house, in his environment. I’m like, I don’t know this guy. What if I try to fight him and he tries to kill me?” she said. “My concern is like when he does get out of jail, he knows where I work.”Asked if Freeman said anything during the sexual contact the woman said Freeman told her: “We should make a porn with another guy.”The woman said she did not report the case and was reluctant to speak with investigators because she was a single mother with three kids.“My biggest fear is him coming to my house and hurting my kids,” the woman said. At least two of the rape victims described the home where they were sexually attacked. Freeman told them he had just bought a house in Orange City and he gave them tours of the home before attacking them, reports said.Freeman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday. His office previously released a statement noting that Freeman takes the charges seriously and pledging to conduct his defense with respect for all parties involved. “I would only ask that we avoid a rush to judgment and wait until all facts are known,” O’Mara’s statement reads.